WINDS. 



4 03 



spheres resemble each other. They are engendered on the sea in the 

 heat of the Tropical regions. While confined to the ocean, they enlarge 

 as they progress; but coming in contact with the land, they often 

 divide, or contract to narrow limits, exhibiting all the marks of 

 intense electrical action within short distances and confined spaces, 

 as is often witnessed in our own country. 



Their origin appears to be nearly on the same parallels, the 10th 

 degree of latitude, in both hemispheres, and they have a whirling 

 motion, but reversed. They are preceded by calms and shifting 

 winds, or light and fitful breezes. Near the centre of action, or 

 within their vortex, a high temperature always prevails. The atmo- 

 spheric pressure is increased beyond their limits, but diminished 

 within. Their approach is accompanied by a feeling of languor and 

 exhaustion, apparently from a want of elasticity in the air. Their 

 progress is from east to west. Their route forms a portion of an ellipse 

 of greater or less diameter, recurving towards the pole of that hemi- 

 sphere where they originate. 



During their formation, the sky becomes overcast, of a deep leaden 

 color — assumes a lowering aspect. The horizon is surrounded by a 

 dense bank of clouds, from ten to fifteen degrees in altitude, with 

 ragged edges, which tear off in vapors, moving rapidly, not as if borne 

 by any wind, but attracted in various directions. The sun appears 

 blood red — the clouds tinged with a lurid red, which gradually spreads 

 itself over the whole sea; lightnings dart upwards from these clouds 

 in columns, composed of separate rays, of a dull hue, and of long 

 duration. The wind gradually freshens, blowing towards a central 

 point or line. The clouds overhead decrease in height, as though a 

 powerful attraction was operating to depress them, and to confine the 

 approaching storm to the narrowest limits, causing a most appalling 

 apprehension of danger to both man and beast. 



The route of these meteors has been traced, from the minimum line 

 of pressure, by very many observations ; it is found that it coincides 

 with the central line of maximum heat and vapor. It is known that 

 between the first and last parts of a hurricane, a calm of longer or 

 shorter duration takes place. At times it appears perfect, and often 

 sudden ; at others, more or less accompanied by fitful airs and light 

 breezes from various quarters. The extent of these calms is also 

 remarkable. They have been found to be equal in some cases to one- 

 third the diameter of the storm. During the continuance of the 



